SOUTH Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) has been praised by a health watch-dog.

The Care Quality Commis-sion (CQC) commended SCAS, which works across Basingstoke, Hampshire and beyond, describing staff as “dedicated, committed and passionate”.

A formal report has now been published of the inspection, which was carried out in September 2014.

Both staff and public engagement were identified as being good, as was the leadership of the service.

But the trust is yet to receive a formal rating as this was a pilot ambulance inspection. SCAS will be inspected again before it receives an official rating from the CQC.

Will Hancock, chief execu-tive of SCAS, said: “We welcome the report findings and the opportunity that this has given us to see ourselves as others see us.

“We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this inspection process and we are keen to use the learning and findings to focus on improving and ensuring that our patients receive the best possible care that we can provide.”